Ships – Floating platform
Patent
1994-06-08
1996-01-16
Sotelo, Jesus D.
Ships
Floating platform
405224, 114267, B63B 2700
Patent
active
054839130
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a very large floating structure which is floated on the surface of water such as the surface of the sea or a lake surface. It is used as a planting area, an agricultural area or a facility area such as a solar panel installation area or a tennis court.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, an artificial island has been known as a kind of floating structure. The artificial island comprises a floating body which is installed under the surface of the sea, a platform which is installed on the surface of the sea and a plurality of columns of connecting the floating body and the platform. The artificial island is used as a submarine oil field camp. Since only the columns are influenced by the wave, the structure of the artificial island is hardly affected by the buoyancy fluctuation of the waves. The artificial island must be a rigid body having high strength because it supports the floating body and the platform. Thus, enormous expenses are needed for constructing the artificial island, and it results in heavy weight. Therefore, the artificial island can be used as a facility having high added value such as an artificial city. However, the cost is too expensive when the artificial island is used for facilities such as an agricultural area, a planting area and a solar panel installation area having a comparatively low added value. Therefore, it is difficult to build more facilities, and the spread of facilities is limited.
The present invention provides an inexpensive and lightweight artificial island where more floating structures are easily built and which floats on the surface of the water instead of a conventional expensive artificial island. It is an object of the present invention to provide a practical floating structure and a locking device thereof which are harmless to nature.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The floating structure according to the present invention comprises a sheet spread over the surface of water, the sheet being held in a predetermined position by a column which is positioned at the bottom of the water or a cable body in which one end thereof is fixed to the water bottom, and having a levee wall which is projected from the water surface at a marginal portion; and a rigid member which maintains the rigidity of the sheet.
The sheet principally seals water, so water doesn't penetrate through the sheet and doesn't ooze out the bottom surface to the top surface. As a result, buoyancy is generated at the bottom surface to support earth and sand which are disposed on the top surface. It is preferable that the sheet be a rubber sheet, a plastic film or a plastic sheet. All of them have flexibility. The sheet improves its strength since reinforced threads, reinforced wires or reinforced fibers are arranged and buried inside the sheet. The sheet having high strength is very convenient for stretching between columns. When the sheet has low tension, a cable body such as a rope or a belt can be used. There is no problem where the cable body and the sheet are integrally formed, or that the cable body is fixed to the sheet by other means.
The sheet has a levee wall which is projected from the water surface at the marginal portion. The levee wall prevents the sheet from being penetrated by water. A tubular wall filled with pressurized gas such as air can be used as the levee wall.
The rigid member provides the sheet with rigidity. The degree of rigidity depends on the purpose of use. Most of rigid members have sufficient rigidity such that unevenness isn't generated on the sheet when someone steps on it. A tubular bag filled with pressurized fluid can be used as the rigid member. When the pressurized fluid is gas, the rigid member can act as a float. When the pressurized fluid is water, the rigid member is not influenced by buoyancy. The tensile rigidity of the tubular bag filled with pressure fluid corresponds to the tensile strength of the sheet or film. The compressed rigidity of the tubular bag corresponds to t
REFERENCES:
patent: 2984076 (1961-05-01), Bradley
patent: 3237414 (1966-03-01), Straub et al.
patent: 3496586 (1970-02-01), Kaufman
patent: 3533240 (1970-10-01), Lesh
patent: 3717001 (1973-02-01), Tam
Nonoyama Takao
Ohkawa Hiroshi
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